Eject-inject lock mechanism



Dec-'9, 1958 R. w. GRANT ETAL 2,863,689

EJECT-INJE'CT LOCK MECHANISM Filed Dec. 31, 1956 r//l, 22 50 9. I, 13,23 35 45 2s 44 34 4l Jl t 25 INVENTORS, s` Richard W; Gram, 12 l' A EAGENT linited States Patent l' EIECT-INJJECT LOCK MECHANISM Richard W.Grant and Milton H. Rosengard, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to HughesAircraft Company, Culver City, Calif., a corporation of DelawareApplication December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,967

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-251) The present arrangement relates generally to alocking arrangement and relates more particularly to a mechanism for usein moving a tray, drawer, door, chassis, or the like, into a finalclosed position and for thereafter securing the moved structure in sucha closed position.

In many contemporary structures such as, for example, in electrical orelectronic devices employing multiple contacts, extreme difculty isexperienced in the required forcing of many male and female contactstructures into engagement'with each other, due primarily to highfrictional forces that are employed therewith. In structures such as,for example, computers and the like, it has become common practice toemploy either multiple Contact plugs or printed circuit edge contacts inassociation with a removable chassis or drawer. Such chassis areconstructed in such a manner as to be removable for maintenance, repairor replacement of entire units or components thereof as may benecessary. The chassis are generally slid into suitable openingsdesigned for reception thereof, with contacts protruding from rearwardends. These contacts are adapted to mate with other contacts carried bya rack 'or frame and means must thereafter be provided not only to lockthese contacts in connected positions, but also to enable installationin a manner to overcome the high frictional forces without undue strain'on individual components or the use of special tools or the like.

Accordingly, it is one important object of the invention to provide anovel eject-inject mechanism for use between relatively movablestructures.

It is another important object of the invention'rto provide a lockmechanism having safety means as a portion thereof to prevent operationof eject-inject portions while the device is in a locked position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotationally operablecam means associated with a lock ,4

mechanism for applying axial force to a driver, chassis, or the like andthereafter to lock such chassis in position and/or remove said chassisas desired.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a noveleject-inject locking mechanism that is exceptionally simple inconstruction, reliable and effective in use and relatively inexpensivein manufacture.

Other and further important objects of the invention will becomeapparent from the disclosures in the following detailed specification,appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein: h

Figure l is a side elevational view of the present ejectinject latchingmechanism as shown sectionally in association with a typicalinstallational situation;

Fig. Zis a bottom plan view yof the mechanism showing components-in aninjected locked position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing components in unlocked andpartially ejected positions;

Fig. 4 is a reduced rear elevational view yof the mechanisrn;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line5--5, Fig. 3 and rotated 180 and 2,863,689 Patented Dec. 9, 1958 Fig. 6is a fragmentary sectional view showing details of the worm gear camarrangement and locking device.

With reference to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denotelike components, the device hereof is shown as being carried by andoperatively associated with a rack R, having a front panel P; a chassisC; and a mounting plate M. In the usual instance, the rack R is aportion of a stationary frame structure in which one or more of thechassis are slida'bly disposed. Various components, devices orassociated structures are carried by and upwardly of the upper surfaceof the chassis C. The rack R is adapted to carry a strike plate lt) thatis secured thereto by means of a plurality of rivets Il or the like. Thestrike plate 10 has laterally extending flanges 12 that are disposedoutwardly therefrom, remote from the contacting'surface with the rack R.An upper planar surface 13 of the strike plate 10 is provided with aplurality of spaced semicircular quarter thread grooves f 14, thepurpose of which to be hereinafter more fully described.

As shown on the drawing, the latch portion of the present arrangementincludes a housing 15 having a semicircular opening 16 therein. Thehousing further has lateral extending side portions I7 in which a pairof lateral grooves 18 are formed. The housing 15 also is provided withinwardly directed edges 20, the grooves 18 and the edges 20 beingadapted for slidable receptive cooperation with the anges 12 disposedfrom sides of the strike plate 1l). The rearward portion of the housing1S is cut away as at 2l for reception of a rear latch plate 22 that issecured to the housing by means of a pair of screws 23 which threadablyengage the housing. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear latch plate is providedwith a centrally disposed hexagonal aperture 24. A front latch plate 25is mounted on the housing 15 on the side thereof remote from the latchplate 22, this front latch plate 25 having a centrally disposed annularaperture 26. The housing 15, together with the front latch plate 25, isadapted for attachment to a flange 27 of the chassis C and the frontpanel P by means of screws 28 that are disposed through the panel P andange 27 and which threadably engage the housing 15, thus to secure thelatch to the chassispanel combination and the front latch plate 25 tothe houslng 15. For a purpose to be hereinafter more full3 described, aguard member 30 is also secured to the panel P, portions of this guardmember being disposed beneath the heads of screws 28. Additionally, thepanel P is outwardly anged as at 31 along a lower edge thereof.

With reference to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, a worm gear 32 is disposed withinthe semicircular opening 16 of the housing I5. The worm gear has anaxially disposed hexagonal opening 33 therethrough for reception of ahexagonalV portion 34 of a locking shaft indicatedV generally at 35. Thelocking shaft 35 has an enlarged outer end 36 that is adapted forslidable disposition within a recess 3'7 of a coupling member 38. Thecoupling member 38 has an outer end portion provided with wrench iats 40and a cylindrical portion il that is adapted for pivotal disposition inthe aperture 26 in the front latoh plate 25. The coupling member 38 hasan inner end thereof provided with an outwardly disposed ange 42, aninner face of which is adapted for engagement with an inner surface ofthe front latch plate 25, an outer face 43 of the coupling 38 beingadapted for engagement withv one end of the worm gear 32. To preventrotation of the coupling 3S relative to the locking shaft 35, thecoupling 38 is provided with a hexagonal aperture 44 that is adapted foraxially slidable disposition about the hexagonal portion 34 of thelocking shaft 35. As shown in Fig. 6, a compression spring 45 isdisposed between an inner surface of the locking shaft head 36 and abase 3 of the recess 37. Additionally, an annular locking ring 46 isdisposed about the wrench at area of the coupling 38 and secured to thehead portion 36 of the locking shaft 35 by means of a transverselydisposed pin 47 that extends freely through elongated slots 48 in thecoupling 38.

With further reference to Fig. 6, it is to be noted that the end of thelocking shaft 35, remote from the head portion 36, is provided with areduced diameter cylindrical portion 5t) adjacent the hexagonal portion34 and, on the outer end thereof with a hexagonal locking portion 51.The locking portion 51 is adapted for cooperation with the hexagonalaperture 24 in the rear latch plate 22. It may thus be seen that theworm gear 32 and coupling 38 are secured against rotation on the lockingshaft 35 and that the shaft 35 is free to move axially within thesemembers.

In operation of the present lock arrangement, the panel and chassisstructure carrying the latch mechanism is inserted into a suitableopening in the rack R which has the strike plate 1b mounted thereon.Thereafter, through use of a suitable tool, such as an ordinary socket,the locking shaft 35 is moved axially with respect to the coupling 38and the wo-rm gear 32 and against the cornpression of the spring 45.Simultaneously, the hexagonal locking portion 51 of the shaft 35 ismoved out of en gagement with the hexagonal aperture 24 in the rearlatch plate 22, whereby to dispose the cylindrical portion 50 of theshaft within the aperture 24. In this connection it is to be noted thatwhen the portion 51 is disposed in the aperture 24, the coupling 38 andthe worm gear 32 are held against rotation. It may be seen that axialforce upon the ring 46 will act through the pin 47 to move the shaft 35in an axial direction. After the components have been moved to theposition shown in Fig. 3, the coupling 38 and worm gear 32 may berotated by means of any suitable wrench applied to the wrench ats 40,thus to effect engagement between the worm gear 32 and the thread-likegrooves 14 in the strike plate 1i). This action serves to inject thepanel carrying latch into the rack R under the force of the cam actionbetween the worm gear 32 and thread-like grooves I4. When the componentshave reached the position shown in Fig. 2, force against the compressionof the spring 45 may be relieved whereby again to disposethe hexagonalportion of the shaft 35 in the aperture 24, thus to lock the worm gear32 against rotation with respect to the strike plate 1) and preventinadvertent removal of the chassis from the rack.

It is to be noted that the safety ring 46 serves effectively to coverexposed surfaces of the wrench flats 40, thus to prevent application ofa wrench or socket to the coupling 38 until such time as the hexagonalportion 51 of the shaft 35 is moved out of engagement with the hexagonalaperture 24. Additionally, the guard 30, together with the panel ange 31also serve to prevent application of a wrench type device to thecoupling 38 inwardly of the safety ring 46. The latch structure isdisengaged from the strike plate in a manner reverse of that describedin connection with the injection operation, whereby to eject thechassis-panel combination from the rack R. It is to be noted that iinalmovement upon injection and initial movement upon ejection may beaccomplished with considerable force through use of the structure hereofand the cam action between the grooves 14 and the worm gear 32. Theengagement of the flanges 12 of the strike plate l@ in the grooves 18Vof the housing 15' serves to prevent lateral separation of the strikeplate and worm gear.

Having thus described the invention and the present embodiment thereof,it is desired to emphasize the fact that many modifications may beresorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of thefollowing claims.

We claim:

l. An inject-eject latch mechanism comprising, in combination: a strikeplate adapted for disposition on a stationary structure; a latch carriedby a movable structure; a plurality of grooves in said strike plate; ahousing for said latch; a worm gear carried by said housing and adaptedfor cooperation with said grooves; tongue and groove means on said plateand said housing respectively for maintaining lateral engagement betweensaid worm gear and said grooves; means for rotating worm gear whereby toeffect engagement between said gear and said grooves; and releasablemeans carried by said rotating means and cooperable with said housingfor locking said gear against rotation. I

2. An inject-eject latch mechanism comprising, in combination: astrike'plate adapted Vfor disposition on a stationary' structure; alatch carried by a movable structure; a plurality of grooves in saidstrike plate; a housing for said latch; a worm gear carried by saidhousing and adapted for cooperation with said grooves; tongue and groovemeans on said plate and said housing respectively for maintaininglateral engagement between said worm gear and said grooves; means forrotating said worm gear whereby to effect engagement between said gearand said grooves; disengageable means carried by said rotating means andcooperable with said housing for locking said gear against rotation; andmeans for preventing rotation of said rotating means beforedisengagement of said locking means.

3. An inject-eject latch mechanism comprising, in combination: a strikeplate adapted for fixed disposition on a stationary structure; a latchcarried by a movable structure; a plurality of angularly disposedgrooves in said strike plate; a housing for said latch; a worm gearcarried by said housing and adapted for cooperation with said grooves;tongue and groove means respectively on said plate and said housing formaintaining lateral engagement between said worm gear and said grooves;tool attachment means for rotating said worm gear whereby to effectengagement between said gear and said grooves, said rotating means beingaxially slidable in said worm gear; disengageable means carried by saidrotating means and cooperable with said housing for locking said gearagainst rotation; means for biasing said locking means toward a lockedposition; and means for preventing rotation of said rotating meansbefore disengagement of said locking means.

4. A latching mechanism for use between a stationary frame and a movableelement slidably disposed in said frame, comprising, in combination: astrike plate secured to said frame; a plurality of spaced angularlydisposed thread-like grooves in an exposed surface of said plate; alatch housing secured to said movable element; a worm gear disposed insaid housing, said gear being adapted for cooperable engagement withsaid grooves in said plate; a shaft carried by said housing andlongitudinally slidably disposed in said gear; means for fixing saidgear against rotation relative to said shaft; tongue and groove meansrespectively on said plate and said housing for maintaining said gear inlateral engagement with said grooves in said plate; a locking portioncarried by one end of said shaft, said portion being hexagonal incross-section and adapted for cooperation with a similarly shapedaperture in said housing, whereby to lock said shaft and said gearagainst rotation when disposed in the confines of said aperture; acoupling rotatably supported in said housing and disposed about anotherend of said shaft; means for securing said coupling against rotationrelative to said shaft; and spring means disposed between said couplingand said shaft whereby to bias said shaft in a direction to electdisposition of said locking portion in said aperture.

5. A latehing mechanism for use between a stationary frame and a movableelement slidably disposed in said frame, comprising, in combination: astrike plate secured to said frame; a plurality of spaced angularlydisposed quarter thread-like grooves in an exposed surface of saidplate; a latch housing secured to said movable element; a worm geardisposed in said housing, said gear being adapted for cooperable'engagement with said grooves in said plate; a shaft carried by saidhousing and longitudinally slidably disposed in said gear; means forfixing said gear against rotation relative to said shaft; tongue andgroove means respectively on said plate and said housing for maintainingsaid gear in lateral engagement with said grooves in said plate; alocking portion carried by one end of said shaft, said portion beinghexagonal in cross-section and adapted for cooperation with a similarlyshaped aperture in said housing, whereby to lock said shaft and saidgear against rotation when disposed in the confines of said aperture; acoupling rotatably supported in said housing and disposed about anotherend of said shaft; means for securing said coupling against rotationrelative to said shaft; spring means disposed between said coupling andsaid shaft whereby to bias said shaft in a direction to effectdisposition of said locking portion in said aperture; and safety ringmeans disposed about said coupling and connected with said another endof said shaft for preventing application of of tools to said couplingand rotation of said shaft and said gear prior to disengagement of saidlocking portion from said aperture.

6. A latching mechanism for use between a stationary frame and a movableelement slidably disposed in said frame, comprising, in combination: astrike plate secured to said frame; a plurality of spaced angularlydisposed quarter thread-like grooves in an exposed surface of saidplate; a latch housing secured to said movable element; a worm geardisposed in said housing, said gear being adapted for cooperableengagement with said grooves in said plate; a shaft carried by saidhousing and longitudinally slidably disposed in said gear; means forfixing said gear against rotation relative to said shaft; tongue andgroove means respectively on said plate and said housing for maintainingsaid gear in lateral engagement with said grooves in said plate; alocking portion carried by one end of said shaft, said portion beinghexagonal in cross-section and adapted for cooperation with a similarlyshaped aperture in said housing, whereby to lock said shaft and saidgear against rotation when disposed in the confines of said aperture; acoupling rotatably supported in said housing and disposed about anotherend of said shaft; a transversely disposed pin secured to said shaft anddisposed in a slot in said coupling for securing said coupling againstrotation relative to said shaft; spring means disposed between saidcoupling and said shaft whereby to bias said shaft in a direction toeffect disposition of said locking portion in said aperture; and safetyring means disposed about said coupling and connected with saidtransversely disposed pin for preventing application of tools to saidcoupling and rotation of said shaft and said gear prior to disengagementof said locking portion from said aperture by longitudinal movement ofsaid shaft against force of said spring means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 189,392Schoonmaker Apr. 10, 1877 464,265 Montgomery Dec. 1, 1891 2,635,751Schroeder et al. Apr. 21, 1953 2,720,393 Valentine Oct. 11, 1955

